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Australia’s social media ban for under-16s has taken its latest turn.
Meta has wiped over 544,000 teen accounts from Instagram, Facebook, and Threads in just one week — but the tech giant is firing back with claims that the world’s strictest social media law is already failing.
The company says in its announcement that it blocked 330,639 Instagram accounts, 173,497 Facebook accounts, and 39,916 Threads accounts between Dec. 4-11.
This massive account purge comes just one month after Australia’s historic ban took effect on Dec. 10, 2025, making it the first country to completely prohibit social media access for children under 16 — with no parental override allowed.
The Meta empire strikes back
Australia’s ban covers all major platforms including TikTok, Snapchat, X, Reddit, and YouTube, with companies facing fines up to $49.5 million if they fail to take “reasonable steps” to block underage users.
But Meta isn’t celebrating this compliance milestone. Instead, the company launched a scathing attack on the legislation, arguing it fundamentally misunderstands how social media works.
Meta claims the ban fails to improve youth safety and wellbeing because teens can still access algorithmic content on platforms like YouTube without logging in. The tech giant also warned that vulnerable teenagers are being pushed toward less regulated platforms and losing access to vital online support communities.
The tech firm is questioning the entire premise of Australia’s approach. The company argues that the law’s foundation is “false” because it assumes preventing account creation eliminates algorithmic exposure, but teens can still consume algorithm-driven content while logged out. This creates a dangerous illusion of protection while actually reducing safety controls, since logged-out users can’t benefit from age-appropriate content filters or parental oversight tools.
The company also slammed “inconsistent” age verification methods across different platforms, arguing this patchwork approach undermines the ban’s effectiveness. Meta is pushing for a radically different solution: requiring app stores to verify ages and obtain parental consent before children can download any social media app, rather than placing the burden on individual platforms.
Meanwhile, Australian Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the ban, describing social media algorithms as “behavioral cocaine” and arguing the law protects “Generation Alpha” from predatory design features.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese acknowledged the rollout wouldn’t be perfect but emphasized that other countries are following Australia’s lead, with Denmark planning similar restrictions for under-15s by mid-2026 and Malaysia targeting early 2026 implementation.
What this means for the global battle
The stakes couldn’t be higher as Australia’s experiment becomes a global test case. Multiple countries are watching closely, with research showing that 96% of Australian children aged 10-15 use social media, meaning over one million accounts could ultimately be affected. The legislation faces two High Court challenges, including a suit filed by Reddit in December arguing the law violates free speech rights under Australia’s constitution.
Early evidence suggests the ban may be creating unintended consequences, with increased downloads of alternative apps and migration to encrypted messaging platforms that operate outside regulatory oversight. Critics worry the legislation’s one-size-fits-all approach ignores diverse developmental stages among teenagers and could harm LGBTQ+ youth who rely on social media for community support and health information.
Meta is demanding the Australian government “engage with industry constructively to find a better way forward” that incentivizes safer platform design rather than blanket bans.
As this unprecedented social experiment unfolds, the world is watching to see whether Australia’s bold move will become the new global standard — or a cautionary tale about the limits of regulatory intervention in digital spaces.
Meta has sought to reassure millions of Instagram users after a sudden wave of password reset emails sparked widespread concern that personal data had been compromised in a major cyber breach.
